Antisynthetase SyndromeJAKCNIASSILDNCT07406932
A Study on the Efficacy and Safety of JAK Inhibitors Versus Calcineurin Inhibitors as Initial Therapy for Interstitial Lung Disease Associated With Antisynthetase Syndrome
A study testing JAK Inhibitor and Calcineurin Inhibitors (CNI) in people with Antisynthetase Syndrome and Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), run by China-Japan Friendship Hospital at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
This study is a prospective investigation comparing the efficacy and safety of Janus kinase inhibitors versus calcineurin inhibitors as initial therapy for interstitial lung disease associated with antisynthetase syndrome. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 75 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Antisynthetase Syndrome, Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)
- What is being tested?
- JAK Inhibitor and Calcineurin Inhibitors (CNI)
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine, Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 80 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 18 May 2026to 1 Jul 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 75 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 18 to 75 years.
- Meet the 2017 EULAR/ACR diagnostic criteria for Anti-synthetase Syndrome (ASS).
- Presence of Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) confirmed by High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT).
- Active disease requiring initiation or intensification of immunosuppressive therapy, with no prior use of glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants, or biologics.
- Signed informed consent form.
Who cannot join
- Diagnosis of Rapidly Progressive ILD (RP-ILD), defined as worsening dyspnea within 1 month and PaO2/FiO2 ratio < 250 mmHg.
- Active uncontrolled severe infection, malignancy, or major organ failure.
- Pregnancy or lactation.
- Contraindications to the study drugs.
- Concurrent use of other immunosuppressants or biologics.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
China1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
China-Japan Friendship Hospital
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100029
Qinghong Liu, 15774917676, 166618530@qq.com
About this study
This study is a prospective investigation comparing the efficacy and safety of Janus kinase inhibitors versus calcineurin inhibitors as initial therapy for interstitial lung disease associated with antisynthetase syndrome. The goal is to determine which treatment is more effective at improving lung function and preventing disease progression, while comparing their safety profiles. The findings will help provide clearer treatment guidance for doctors and patients.
Read the detailed description
This is a single-center, randomized, open-label, prospective study. Eligible adults with interstitial lung disease associated with antisynthetase syndrome (ASS-ILD) who are treatment-naïve will be randomly assigned to receive either a JAK inhibitor (tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily, or baricitinib 4 mg once daily, or upadacitinib 15 mg once daily) or a calcineurin inhibitor (tacrolimus 0.075 mg/kg/day in two divided doses, or cyclosporine 2-5 mg/kg/day in two divided doses), both in combination with a standard glucocorticoid regimen. The primary endpoint is the 12-month survival rate. Secondary endpoints include changes in lung function, high-resolution CT (HRCT) scores, glucocorticoid dosage reduction, and the proportion of patients achieving low disease activity. Safety and laboratory parameters will be closely monitored throughout the 12-month treatment and follow-up period. Statistical analyses will compare the efficacy and safety profiles between the two treatment arms, and subgroup analyses will be performed to explore potential predictors of treatment response.
- Being tested
- JAK Inhibitor, Calcineurin Inhibitors (CNI)
- Medical subject headings
- Antisynthetase syndrome, Lung Diseases, Interstitial
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
JAK InhibitorDrug
Oral JAK inhibitors (tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily, or baricitinib 4 mg once daily, or upadacitinib 15 mg once daily) administered in combination with standard glucocorticoid therapy for 12 months.
Calcineurin Inhibitors (CNI)Drug
Oral calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus 0.075 mg/kg/day in two divided doses, or cyclosporine 2-5 mg/kg/day in two divided doses) administered in combination with standard glucocorticoid therapy for 12 months.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| JAK inhibitor group | Experimental | Participants in this arm will receive one of the JAK inhibitors (tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily, or baricitinib 4 mg once daily, or upadacitinib 15 mg once daily) in combination with a standard glucocorticoid regimen (methylprednisolone 0.5g IV for 3 days, followed by oral prednisone 0.8-1.0 mg/kg/day tapered to 7.5 mg/day over 12 months). Treatment duration is 12 months. Receives: Drug: JAK Inhibitor |
| Calcineurin inhibitor group | Experimental | Participants in this arm will receive either tacrolimus (0.075 mg/kg/day in two divided doses) or cyclosporine (2-5 mg/kg/day in two divided doses) in combination with the same standard glucocorticoid regimen as the experimental group. Treatment duration is 12 months. Receives: Drug: Calcineurin Inhibitors (CNI) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
12-month survival rate
Proportion of participants surviving at 12 months after randomization, with survival defined as the time from randomization to death from any cause.
Measured: 12 months
Secondary outcomes (4)
Annual decline rate of lung function (FVC% and DLCO%)
The annual rate of decline in forced vital capacity (FVC% predicted) and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO% predicted), calculated as the change from baseline to 12 months.
Measured: Change from baseline to 12 months
Change in HRCT score
Change in high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) score from baseline to 12 months, assessed using a standardized scoring system.
Measured: Change from baseline to 12 months
Rate of glucocorticoid tapering
The rate of glucocorticoid dose reduction over 12 months, calculated as the time to achieve prednisone ≤7.5 mg/day or the cumulative glucocorticoid dose.
Measured: Over 12 months
Proportion of patients achieving low disease activity (LDA)
Proportion of participants achieving low disease activity (LDA) at 6 and 12 months, defined as meeting all of the following criteria: no active arthritis without regular NSAID use; no active myositis with serum creatine kinase ≤ upper limit of normal; stable ILD with no decline in pulmonary function (FVC decline <5% and DLCO decline <10% in the past 6 months); no fever or other systemic manifestations with ESR <20 mm/h; stable glucocorticoid dose ≤7.5 mg/day (prednisone equivalent) for at least 3 months.
Measured: At 6 months and 12 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Feb 2026
- Study start18 May 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Jul 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Jul 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Antisynthetase SyndromeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by China-Japan Friendship HospitalThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- China-Japan Friendship Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Qinghong Liu, China-Japan Friendship Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07406932
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- JAKCNIASSILD
- Acronym
- JAKCNIASSILD
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 6 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 3 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Study on the Efficacy and Safety of JAK Inhibitors Versus Calcineurin Inhibitors as Initial Therapy for Interstitial Lung Disease Associated With Antisynthetase Syndrome
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07406932
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- JAKCNIASSILD / JAKCNIASSILD
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- China-Japan Friendship HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 18 May 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jul 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Jul 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 12 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study is a prospective investigation comparing the efficacy and safety of Janus kinase inhibitors versus calcineurin inhibitors as initial therapy for interstitial lung disease associated with antisynthetase syndrome. The goal is to determine which treatment is more effective at improving lung function and preventing disease progression, while comparing their safety profiles. The findings will help provide clearer treatment guidance for doctors and patients.
Detailed description
This is a single-center, randomized, open-label, prospective study. Eligible adults with interstitial lung disease associated with antisynthetase syndrome (ASS-ILD) who are treatment-naïve will be randomly assigned to receive either a JAK inhibitor (tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily, or baricitinib 4 mg once daily, or upadacitinib 15 mg once daily) or a calcineurin inhibitor (tacrolimus 0.075 mg/kg/day in two divided doses, or cyclosporine 2-5 mg/kg/day in two divided doses), both in combination with a standard glucocorticoid regimen. The primary endpoint is the 12-month survival rate. Secondary endpoints include changes in lung function, high-resolution CT (HRCT) scores, glucocorticoid dosage reduction, and the proportion of patients achieving low disease activity. Safety and laboratory parameters will be closely monitored throughout the 12-month treatment and follow-up period. Statistical analyses will compare the efficacy and safety profiles between the two treatment arms, and subgroup analyses will be performed to explore potential predictors of treatment response.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| JAK inhibitor group | Experimental | Drug: JAK InhibitorParticipants in this arm will receive one of the JAK inhibitors (tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily, or baricitinib 4 mg once daily, or upadacitinib 15 mg once daily) in combination with a standard glucocorticoid regimen (methylprednisolone 0.5g IV for 3 days, followed by oral prednisone 0.8-1.0 mg/kg/day tapered to 7.5 mg/day over 12 months). Treatment duration is 12 months. |
| Calcineurin inhibitor group | Experimental | Drug: Calcineurin Inhibitors (CNI)Participants in this arm will receive either tacrolimus (0.075 mg/kg/day in two divided doses) or cyclosporine (2-5 mg/kg/day in two divided doses) in combination with the same standard glucocorticoid regimen as the experimental group. Treatment duration is 12 months. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Age 18 to 75 years.
- Meet the 2017 EULAR/ACR diagnostic criteria for Anti-synthetase Syndrome (ASS).
- Presence of Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) confirmed by High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT).
- Active disease requiring initiation or intensification of immunosuppressive therapy, with no prior use of glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants, or biologics.
- Signed informed consent form.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Diagnosis of Rapidly Progressive ILD (RP-ILD), defined as worsening dyspnea within 1 month and PaO2/FiO2 ratio < 250 mmHg.
- Active uncontrolled severe infection, malignancy, or major organ failure.
- Pregnancy or lactation.
- Contraindications to the study drugs.
- Concurrent use of other immunosuppressants or biologics.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| JAK InhibitorOral JAK inhibitors (tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily, or baricitinib 4 mg once daily, or upadacitinib 15 mg once daily) administered in combination with standard glucocorticoid therapy for 12 months. | Drug | JAK inhibitor group |
| Calcineurin Inhibitors (CNI)Oral calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus 0.075 mg/kg/day in two divided doses, or cyclosporine 2-5 mg/kg/day in two divided doses) administered in combination with standard glucocorticoid therapy for 12 months. | Drug | Calcineurin inhibitor group |
Primary outcome
12-month survival rate
Time frame: 12 months
Proportion of participants surviving at 12 months after randomization, with survival defined as the time from randomization to death from any cause.
4 secondary outcomes
Annual decline rate of lung function (FVC% and DLCO%)
Time frame: Change from baseline to 12 months
Change in HRCT score
Time frame: Change from baseline to 12 months
Rate of glucocorticoid tapering
Time frame: Over 12 months
Proportion of patients achieving low disease activity (LDA)
Time frame: At 6 months and 12 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Jun 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing JAK Inhibitor and Calcineurin Inhibitors (CNI) in people with Antisynthetase Syndrome and Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), run by China-Japan Friendship Hospital at 1 site in China.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Qinghong Liu, MD (+86 15774917676, 166618530@qq.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
12-month survival rate (time frame: 12 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Jun 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.